How to Get Rid of Chili Burn

If you’ve ever handled fresh or dried chillies, you’ve probably experienced that burning sensation on your fingers and hands at one time or another. That painful, burning feeling comes from the capsaicin in chilies and chili peppers like jalapeños.

You’ve also probably found out that washing your hands in soap and water – however long you do it – didn’t relieve the burn. Here are some tips on how to get rid of chili burn.

How to get rid of chili burn

1) Try dabbing some lemon or lime juice (vinegar will work too) on the affected areas.

Why this works: The acid in lemon/lime juice or vinegar counteracts the alkaline in the chili’s capsaicin. This also explains why you only get chili burn from handling fresh or dried chilies and not chili sauces (because most chili sauces already has some acidic content in it, like lemon juice or vinegar).

2) Rub some oil (e.g. olive oil, coconut oil, etc) over your hands after cutting the chilies. Then wash off with soap and water.

Why this works: Capsaicin is oil-soluble, so rubbing oil over it loosens the compound.

3) Run your hands through your hair. A commenter (AL) shared that running your hands through your hair can work to soothe the burning sensation. Other commenters (Rivrey & sherods) have also confirmed that this works!

AL wrote: “my wife had this issue today, She tried all the suggested remedies, from baking soda, alcohol. milk. calamine lotion, and ice, and experiencing this agony since noontime . Out of desperation, she was just brushing up her hair with her both hands just to soothe the pain, she noticed the slowly diminishing, until she total felt no more burning pain in couple of hours. I can’t believed it works, but it did. Try it , Give us some feedback if it works for you. Gook luck !”

Rivrey wrote: “I was roasting and peeling HOT green peppers today. My hands were burning to the point that I was soaking the ice water on this really cold day! I rubbed vegetable oil and salt into my hands. It worked for awhile. Now I have been running my hands and fingers down and through my hair. It’s actually working!”

Why this works: The only thing I can think of is that this has something to do with static electricity and a transfer of the positive/negative charge between hair and chili-burned fingers.

4) Scrub your hands in hot water and soap.Michael commented that the only thing that worked for him was washing and scrubbing his hands under fairly hot water with plenty of soap for 1-2 minutes. Several other commenters also said it had worked for them. According to Michael, this was “painful but effective”. 👍🏻

How to avoid getting chili burn in the first place

Wear surgical gloves before handling chilies

Why this works: The waterproof barrier prevents the chili from ever touching your skin. Remember not to touch your eyes or face while wearing the gloves. Throw them away after use.

None of that works……. Man up and wash & scrub your hands under fairly hot water for a good minute or 2. It burns like crazy but it washes off the chili oil. Almost like a mechanic washes off grease…. I’ve tried everything else like vodka, antacid, milk, yogurt and none of these work, i’ve even tried salt….. Just a hot hand wash with heaps of soap. Painful but effective

my fingers hurt like hell because of the chili burns. I thought sleeping over the pain will make it go away but it didn’t! 🙁 i tried the oil thingy it somehow lessen the burning sensation. but it still hurts. any other way to get rid of the burning sensation? 🙁

i did a combo salt rub dip in milk then olive oil n cider vinegar now waiting for my sister bring the sour cream depends on the chilie but these will work instantly if not the heat will be mild till go away keep working the treatment gona get sum vodka see if that works if not drink it at least u be too drunk too care.lol

I tried salt which worked a bit but seemed to spread it around?? Then milk, which soothed it while the milk was in contact, then lime juice which helped a lot, and finally olive oil (last three all on cotton balls) and relief at last!

my wife had this issue today, She tried all the suggested remedies, from baking soda, alcohol. milk. calamine lotion, and ice, and experiencing this agony since noontime . Out of desperation, she was just brushing up her hair with her both hands just to soothe the pain, she noticed the slowly diminishing, until she total felt no more burning pain in couple of hours. I can’t believed it works, but it did. Try it , Give us some feedback if it works for you. Gook luck !

I tried washing hands under cold water, it works only for that moment. Tried coconut oil, lime, vinegar.. But all worked only for that moment.. It kept feeling like hands on fire… But RUBBING HANDS THROUGH HAIR, worked wonders !!!! Amazing !! Thanks alot AL, rivery, and Samantha of course … Couldn’t stop posting the comment… 😀

I was roasting and peeling HOT green peppers today. My hands were burning to the point that I was soaking th ice water on this really cold day! I rubbed vegetable oil and salt into my hands. It worked for awhile. Now I have been running my hands and fingers down and through my hair. It’s actually working!

Had horrible experience after handling chillies. Tried all the recommended remedies n nothing worked. My hands felt as tho they were burning. No amount of ice or water or nail plush removal etc did any good.
I even tried the lemon juice. Tried rubbing sandal wood powder as suggested in olden Indian Aayurveda.
Finally this is what worked for me. And believe me it worked like magic —
I rubbed a creme which had urea n lactic acid on my hands. Over it I rubbed common table salt. I applied a little bit of water to moisten the salt.
I rubbed my hands together gently ( as the extreme burning sensation was still there)
Left it to dry a bit and then dipped my hands in a plate with cold water.
This has worked like magic. Plz try this.
The creme I used was actually a creme meant for cracked heels called Compeed
We may try yogurt or dahi as it has lactic acid in it.

Even I got the cilli burn aand tried the cold water I gs it made it worse! And tried the lemon it worked a lil!!!! Thx guys! And I dnt have the cream manisha had used, wish I hav it too, coz I still have the burning feeling

After getting the oil in my eyes and nose plus all over face and hands I found scrubbing with milk, then where possible applying toothpaste or rinsing with toothpaste solution. It does hurt eyes/nose but when rinsed with water it takes the chili burn too. I would have though all the available hydrogen in acids would cause the capsicain to react more strongly, meaning a more intense burning though.

I used Vaseline just there because I deseeded a chili and forgot to wash my hands and then went to rub my nose and lips. I used regular Vaseline but you prob can use aloe v one aswell it prob does the same thing 🙂

Dish Soap – If it can cut through oil and grease on our dishes, it can do the same for our hands! Most dish soaps have oil-dissolving properties that are above and beyond regular hand soap. You need not need any of the oil n etc stuffs just go into your kitchen and grab that dish wash liquid.

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